SJR39: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-3224/1

CMH:cjs&ahe

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 39

May 23, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Bewley, L. Taylor, Wirch, Risser, Olsen and Larson, cosponsored by Representatives Mursau, C. Taylor, B. Meyers, Bowen, Kulp, Sinicki, Vining, Hebl, Tauchen, Kolste, Zamarripa, Stubbs, Anderson, Shankland, Cabrera, Considine, Tusler, Sargent, Edming, Hesselbein, Neubauer, Fields, Subeck, Spreitzer and Skowronski. Referred to Committee on Senate Organization.

SJR39,1,2 Relating to: proclaiming May 5th as a Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls.

SJR39,1,6 Whereas, according to the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, four out of five Native women are affected by violence today, and according to a 2016 report from the National Institute of Justice, one-half of those women experience sexual violence; and

SJR39,1,10 Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, homicide is the third leading cause of death among American Native and Alaska Native women between 10 and 24 years of age and the fifth leading cause of death for American Native and Alaska Native women between 25 and 34 years of age; and

SJR39,1,13 Whereas, in 2016, the National Crime Information Center reported nearly 6,000 cases of missing Native American women and girls, but the U.S. Department of Justice was tracking only about 100 cases; and

SJR39,2,2 Whereas, still little data exists on the number of missing and murdered American Native and Alaska Native women and girls in the United States, but there have been instances of violence towards Native women and girls from the 11 Wisconsin Native American Tribes; and

SJR39,2,8 Whereas, some of the Wisconsin Native women whose identities are known include: Bad River Ojibwe members Angeline Whitebird-Sweet, murdered 1989, Charlene Couture, missing since 2009, and Sheila St. Clair, missing since 2015, and Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe members Susan Poupart, murdered 1990, LaVonne Frank, murdered 1997, Donna (LaBarge) Peterson, murdered July 2004, and Emily Anne Marie Wayman, 22 years old, murdered 2010; and

SJR39,2,14 Whereas, we commemorate the lives of missing and murdered American Native and Alaska Native women and girls whose cases are documented and undocumented in public records and the media; and demonstrate solidarity with the families of the victims in light of these tragedies and with the American Native and Alaska Native communities who continuously experience erasure in our state and nation; now, therefore, be it

SJR39,2,20 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the members of the Wisconsin State Legislature hereby commemorate the lives of missing and murdered American Native and Alaska Native women and girls and proclaim May 5th as a day of awareness on which we mourn and call attention to the many missing and murdered Native women and girls, as well as those who have experienced violence and assault, and resolve to act to prevent further victimization.

SJR39,2,21 (End)